​One of my hobbies is trying out new running trails in gorgeous settings. I have run trails in Montreal, Vancouver, Chicago, and in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Here are my top eight favorite running trails. 

My first subzero run on snow and ice was an epiphany.

For years, I stopped running when the first snow came. I was worried about slick running paths and had no idea how to handle the cold temperatures. But the year my husband and I undertook our first half marathon, I felt it essential to start training in January - which meant running on snow and ice, often in temperatures below freezing.

It opened up a whole new world, with gilded trees, frosted meadows, and frozen rivers. Winter beauty is much different than other seasons, but just as spectacular.

Freedom. Elation. Gratitude.

I could now run all year round — with the right equipment and technique. Here are 9 things I find essential for winter running: